Balite, Mark Angelo D.
BSGE- I
ADELARD OF BATH
Adelard of Bath (Latin: Adelardus Bathensis; c. 1080 – c. 1152 AD) was a 12th-century English
natural philosopher. He is known both for his original works and for translating many
important Arabic and Greek scientific works of astrology, astronomy, philosophy
and mathematics into Latin from Arabic versions, which were then introduced to Western
Europe. He is known as one of the first to introduce the Arabic numeral system to Europe. He
stands at the convergence of three intellectual schools: the traditional learning of French
schools, the Greek culture of Southern Italy, and the Arabic science of the East.
GNAEUS NAEVIUS
(/ˈniːviəs/; c. 270[1] – c. 201 BC) was a Roman epic poet and dramatist of the Old Latin period.
He had a notable literary career at Rome until his satiric comments delivered in comedy
angered the Metellus family, one of whom was consul. After a sojourn in prison he recanted
and was set free by the tribunes (who had the tribunician power, in essence the power
of habeas corpus). After a second offense he was exiled to Tunisia, where he wrote his own
epitaph and committed suicide. His comedies were in the genre of Palliata Comoedia, an
adaptation of Greek New Comedy. A soldier in the Punic Wars, he was highly patriotic,
inventing a new genre called Praetextae Fabulae, an extension of tragedy to Roman national
figures or incidents, named after the Toga praetexta worn by high officials. Of his writings there
survive only fragments of several poems preserved in the citations of late ancient grammarians
(Charisius, Aelius Donatus, Sextus Pompeius Festus, Aulus Gellius, Isidorus
Hispalensis, Macrobius, Nonius Marcellus, Priscian, Marcus Terentius Varro).
ENNIUS
Quintus Ennius (/ˈkwɪntəs ˈɛniəs/; c. 239 – c. 169 BC) was a writer and poet who lived during
the Roman Republic. He is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was born in Rudiae,
formerly a small town located near modern Lecce in the heel of Italy (ancient Calabria,
today Salento), and could speak Oscan as well as Latin and Greek. Although only fragments of
his works survive, his influence in Latin literature was significant, particularly in his use of Greek
literary models.
JOHN DRYDEN
John Dryden (/ˈdraɪdən/; 19 August [O.S. 9 August] 1631 – 12 May [O.S. 1 May] 1700) was an
English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet
Laureate in 1668.
He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period
came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden. Walter Scott called him "Glorious
John".
MARTIN LUTHER
Martin Luther, O.S.A. (/ˈluːθər/;[1] German: [ˈmaɐ̯tiːn ˈlʊtɐ]; 10 November 1483 – 18 February
1546) was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, and a seminal figure in
the Protestant Reformation.
Luther came to reject several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. He
strongly disputed the Catholic view on indulgences. Luther proposed an academic discussion of
the practice and efficacy of indulgences in his Ninety-five Theses of 1517. His refusal to
renounce all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the Pope and
condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.
Luther taught that salvation and, consequently, eternal life are not earned by good deeds but
are received only as the free gift of God's grace through the believer's faith in Jesus Christ as
redeemer from sin. His theology challenged the authority and office of the Pope by teaching
that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge from God and
opposed sacerdotalism by considering all baptized Christians to be a holy priesthood. Those
who identify with these, and all of Luther's wider teachings, are called Lutherans, though Luther
insisted on Christian or Evangelical (German: evangelisch) as the only acceptable names for
individuals who professed Christ.
His translation of the Bible into the German vernacular (instead of Latin) made it more
accessible to the laity, an event that had a tremendous impact on both the church and German
culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added
several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the writing of an English translation,
the Tyndale Bible. His hymns influenced the development of singing in Protestant churches. His
marriage to Katharina von Bora, a former nun, set a model for the practice of clerical marriage,
allowing Protestant clergy to marry.
In two of his later works, Luther expressed antagonistic views towards Jews. His rhetoric was
not directed at Jews alone, but also towards Roman Catholics, Anabaptists, and nontrinitarian
Christians. Martin Luther died in 1546, with his decree of excommunication by Pope Leo X still
effective. On his deathbed, Luther was asked: "Are you ready to die trusting in your Lord Jesus
Christ and to confess the doctrine which you have taught in his name?" He answered "Yes",
before taking his final breath.
ANNE BACON (1527-1610)
Anne Bacon was an English scholar born in Essex, a Puritan (English Reformed Protestant)
advocate, and a translator of religious works from Latin and Italian into English. Anne Bacon
was the daughter of Anthony Cooke, the tutor to King Henry VIII’s only son Edward, who later
became King Edward VI of England. Anthony Cooke made sure that all his children – four sons
and five daughters – received a humanist education and studied both the classics and languages
(Latin, Italian, French, Greek and may be Hebrew). Anne Bacon first translated the “Ochines
Sermons” by Protestant evangelist Bernardino Ochino from Italian into English. She became
well known for the translation of “Apologie of the Anglican Church”, originally written in Latin in
1564 by Bishop of Salisbury John Jewel to clarify the differences between Anglicanism and
Roman Catholicism. Her translation was a significant step in the intellectual justification of
Protestantism in England, and helped support the religious policies implemented by Queen
Elizabeth I of England. A deeply religious woman, Anne also wrote many letters conveying her
passion for religion. Many of her later letters were addressed to her two sons, Anthony Bacon
and famed philosopher Francis Bacon, with advice on their spiritual welfare and religious lives.